What are the intended learning outcomes of the course? Do the learning outcomes reflect high-level cognitive skills or low-level skills (pay attention to the verbs)?

The objectives for Physics 2011 are:

Demonstrate an understanding of the physics concepts that shape our modern world.

Demonstrate the use of physics concepts in decision making.

Demonstrate the ability to recognize the difference between opinion based and scientifically argued points of view.

Write arguments based on scientific concepts and scientific evidence.

Communicate scientific ideas effectively.

 

These learning outcomes reflect high-level cognitive skills. The students are not being asked to memorize or describe physics concepts but rather be able to use physics to aid their decision making.

 

How is student learning assessed in the course (essays, quizzes, journals, machine-gradable tests, portfolios)?

Student learning is assessed using assignments, debate tasks, quizzes and journal entries.

 

In what ways are the intended learning outcomes and the assessments aligned or not?Identify 2-3 items or assessments that are worded in such a way that they limit students to a unistructural or multistructural response at best and re-write them so that they require a relational response at worst and include the results in your post.

I think that the learning outcomes and assessments for the course are very well aligned. For example, the debate tasks require the student to use physics concepts to argue positions. This requires the students to use high-level cognitive skills.

One multistrucutral assignment question from the course is, “Describe the three main types of orbits and describe the application of satellites in each type of orbit.” This question could be re-written so it would require a relational response – “Compare the three main types of orbits and argue which type of orbit would be most suitable for a GPS satellite.”

A journal question that limits the student to a unistructural response is “Name three personality traits you think are important for a leader.” This question could be re-written, “Explain which three personality traits you think are most important for a leader.”